On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
Acts 2:1-4, 6-8, 11-12 New Living Translation (NLT)
When Jesus promised that God would send them a Helper, His disciples had no idea what was about to happen. They were told to stay where they were and wait (Luke 24:49). Waiting on the Lord is hard when we lack patience, which is why patience is a virtuous fruit of the Spirit. Many go their own way only to come back and then ask for God's help. This often makes those of us who claim belief to realize that we do better to obey Him in the first place, especially since He promises to always help us.
God sent the Holy Spirit in such a way that those who already believed were literally caught up in His arrival and those who didn't yet believe were caught up in the struggle of trying to figure out what was going on. One thing was certain: Everyone was caught up!
When we rely on our own understanding, we will undoubtedly be led to discover how little we really understand. Things have changed since the time when Jesus ascended to Heaven and promised the coming of the Holy Spirit. Even those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior don't always fully grasp the entire plan of God. The Good News is that we don't have to understand. We just have to believe. God's ways are higher than our ways. "Things" may have changed in our world, but God has not changed and He is in full control. He is going to show up and show out just like He said and did long ago and everybody is going to be "caught up" one way or another, just like they were back then. The only difference is this was how it was in the beginning when God sent the Holy Spirit to help us to live in this troubled world. Believers are now waiting for Jesus Christ to return when all trouble in this world will end.
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49 NLT
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